Seven Cavs claim event titles at Willamette

3/28/2015 4:41:00 PM

RESULTS

SALEM, Ore.—In the first full squad competition of the season, the Concordia track and field teams combined for six automatic and four provisional NAIA national qualifiers while competing at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday.

In addition, the Cavs won seven events, including three of four in the women's throwing disciplines.

The Cavaliers showed well in both 800-meter races as Christa Collmer, Demetrius Rhodes and Austin Collins all dipped under the provisional barrier. Collmer clocked a career-best 2:14.91 for sixth place, cutting nearly a second off her previous best of 2:15.68 to move into No. 4 on CU's all-time performance list.

In the men's race, Rhodes nearly pulled off the event win, crossing .04 out of first with a 1:52.68, matching his career best in the two-lapper. Collins finished with a 1:53.24 in his Concordia outdoor debut for No. 8 all-time in the school's record book and earn the NAIA outdoor provisional status.

Moving up to the 1,500, Matthew Clowes and Brad Prettyman nabbed 'A' marks with Clowes tackling the field with a NAIA-leading 3:45.83 and Brad Prettyman following with a 3:53.21 for the top two times in the NAIA so far in 2015. The duo went 1-3 in the mile at the NAIA Indoor National Championships earlier this month

An All-American in the 600 during the indoor season, Peter Seifert debuted in the 400-meter hurdles with an automatic qualifying time of 52.43, the No. 3 time in school history. Reeher, competing for the first time since a runner-up finish at the outdoor national championships, placed fifth with a 54.74, a shade under the 'B' barrier of 54.50.

Justin Ramirez finished as an event winner in the discus with a career-best 167-2 (50.96m) to punch his return ticket to nationals. Ramirez added almost six feet from his previous best effort of 161-9 set last year while earning All-CCC honors.

Ramirez added a second NAIA 'A' qualifier with a 183-0 (55.79m) in the hammer throw. Ramirez added more than 13 feet to his former all-time best distance in the event and represents the No. 2 mark in the NAIA so far this season.

Tyler Callahan, the NAIA leader in the javelin, uncorked a Tyler Callahan, 207-7 (63.28m), to match his season best distance. Josh Koch and Robert Watson provided a 2-3 finish for the Cavs with Koch unleashing a 50-9 1/4 (15.47m) to Watson's 49-11 3/4 (15.23m).

In the women's throws, McKenzie Warren added to her national-lead with a meet-winning 46-8 1/4 (14.23m) while Jessica Mattos seized the national lead from Warren in the discus with a 156-4 (47.65m) for another Concordia event win.

Warren also added nearly three feet to her provisional qualifying hammer throw mark with a 162-9 (49.62m) while Mattos reached the 'B' barrier with a 155-2 (47.30m).

Emma Buchholz, the national runner-up in the javelin a year ago, placed second in her specialty with a 143-10 (43.86m) to move into the No. 2 position on the NAIA performance list.

Making his track debut after helping CU's basketball team advance to the second round of the NAIA Basketball Championships, James Phillips cleared 22-3 (6.78m) in his first attempt in the long jump for the No. 4 distance in school history, just nine inches away from the NAIA provisional line.

Cutting .27 off his season low, Patrick Contino placed second in the 110-meter hurdles, tying for No. 2 on CU's all-time list while Austin Peila crossed with a 1:06.71 in the steeplechase to climb to No. 3 all-time at CU.

Junior jumper Louis Faust tagged a pair of outdoor career bests, hitting 41-11 1/2 (12.79m) in the triple jump and soaring over 6-6 1/4 (1.99m) in the high jump.

In the women's 1,500, Cia Bywater and Dalen Richardson chopped significant time off their season openers with Bywater crossing in 4:50.34 and Richardson a 4:53.93.

A national qualifier in the indoor triple jump, Rachel Siltman placed fifth on Saturday with a 36-7 1/2 (11.16m) and also landed an outdoor career-best 16-10 1/2 (5.14m) in the long jump to tie for No. 7 on CU's outdoor list.

Other top marks by the Cavs came from Caitlyn Safley with a 25.50 in the 200 and Emily Sytsma with a 59.52 in the 400. Safley's 200 time represents the No. 5 mark in CU history while Sytsma cracks the list at No. 10.

Willamette Invitational
Willamette University
Charles Bowles Track
Salem, Ore.
March 28, 2015


NAIA Automatic Qualifiers
Emma Buchholz, Javelin
Matthew Clowes, 1,500
Brad Prettyman, 1,500
Justin Ramirez, Discus
Justin Ramirez, Hammer
Peter Seifert, 400 Hurdles

NAIA Provisional Qualifiers
Austin Collins, 800
Christa Collmer, 800
Jessica Mattos, Hammer
Demetrius Rhodes, 800

Improved Qualifying Marks
Jessica Mattos, Discus
McKenzie Warren, Shot
McKenzie Warren, Hammer

Men's Results
100: 6. Glen Felix, 11.23. 200: 9. Glen Felix, 22.54. 800: 2. Demetrius Rhodes, 1:52.68; 4. Austin Collins, 1:53.24. 1,500 (A): 1. Matthew Clowes, 3:45.83; 8. Brad Prettyman, 3:53.21. 1,500 (B): 7. Roman Kirkov, 4:03.62; 10. Alan Johnston, 4:08.51; 12. Ethan Livermore, 4:12.04. 110 Hurdles: 2. Patrick Contino, 15.24. 400 Hurdles: 2. Peter Seifert, 52.42; 5. Jordan Reeher, 54.74. Steeplechase: 6. Austin Peila, 10:06.71. Long Jump: 1. James Phillip, 22-3 (6.78m); Louis Faust, Foul. Triple Jump: 5. Louis Faust, 41-11 1/2 (12.79m). High Jump: T3. Louis Faust, 6-6 1/4 (1.99m). Shot: 2. Josh Koch, 50-9 1/4 (15.47m); 3. Robert Watson, 49-11 3/4 (15.23m); 12. Zach Lake, 44-3 1/2 (13.50m). Discus: 1. Justin Ramirez, 167-2 (50.96m); 2. Josh Koch, 150-4 (45.82m); 10. Zach Lake, 137-8 (41.98m). Hammer: 2. Justin Ramirez, 183-0 (55.79m); 8. Robert Watson, 141-3 (43.06m). Javelin: 3. Tyler Callahan, 207-7 (63.28m). 1,600 Relay: 1. Concordia, 3:19.21 (J. Reeher, A. Collins, P. Seifert, D. Rhodes).

Women's Results
200: 3. Caitlyn Safley, 25.50; 13. Emily Sytsma, 26.63; 19. Holly Pfaff, 28.05. 400: 3. Emily Sytsma, 59.52; 10. Samantha Boulanger, 1:01.68. 800: 6. Christa Collmer, 2:14.91. 1,500 (B): 8. Cia Bywater, 4:50.34
13. Dalen Richardson, 4:53.93. 400 Hurdles: 3. Geneva Alvarez, 1:05.62; 6. Molly Scoles, 1:06.06. Long Jump: 7. Rachel Siltman, 16-10 1/2 (5.14m); 10. Holly Pfaff, 16-1 3/4 (4.92m). Triple Jump: 5. Rachel Siltman, 36-7 1/2 (11.16m). High Jump: T7. Holly Pfaff, 4-10 1/2 (1.49m). Shot: 1. McKenzie Warren, 46-8 1/4 (14.23m); 12. Jessica Mattos, 36-4 1/4 (11.08m); 21. Katie Kosmowski, 33-6 1/2 (10.22m). Discus: 1. Jessica Mattos, 156-4 (47.65m); 2. McKenzie Warren, 147-0 (44.82m). Hammer: 1. McKenzie Warren, 162-9 (49.62m); 4. Jessica Mattos, 155-2 (47.30m). Javelin: 2. Emma Buchholz, 143-10 (43.86m); 11. Amber Corbett, 119-1 (36.31m). 400 Relay: 3. Concordia, 49.82 (C. Safley, K. Johnson, S. Boulanger, M. Scoles). 1,600 Relay: 2. Concordia, 3:59.99 (C. Safley, S. Boulanger, M. Scoles, E. Sytsma).